Vet says feds cheap on D-Day trip

Maxine Myers and her husband Eugene Weber pose for a photo in their home in Ottawa Thursday March 6, 2014. War veteran Eugene Weber is upset the government isn't doing enough to allow them to attend D-Day anniversary events this summer. (Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun)

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Denis Armstrong, Ottawa Sun

Mar 6, 2014

, Last Updated: 7:53 PM ET

Maxine Myers thinks it’s unfair that Canadian veterans invited to attend commemorative 70th anniversary ceremonies for D-Day and the Battle at Normandy are being offered a token $2,000 credit voucher to cover the cost of the trip.

The voucher is being by Veterans Affairs Canada for the events set for June 5-8 in France.

Myers said it’s even more unfair that dignitaries like Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Veterans Affairs minister Julian Fantino, retired general Richard Rohmer and a delegation of military brass and staff will have all their travel expenses paid for by taxpayers.

Myers, who lives with her 88-year-old husband Eugene Weber at the Symphony Seniors Living Centre in Kanata, is embarassed that the Canadian government is pinching pennies with older veterans like her husband.

Weber joined the Canadian navy when he was 16, saw action on D-Day when Canadian forces landed on Juno Beach suffering 50% casualties, the second highest of the five D-Day beachheads.

More than 30,000 Canadian troops landed on Juno on D-Day, one of the most significant Allied campaigns of World War II.

Weber stayed with the navy for 27 years before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He is scheduled to receive one of France’s most esteemed military awards at the ceremony, but his wife isn’t sure if they can afford to go.